Engineering Manager - Video AI

Summary

Join Canva's Multimedia group and lead a team of backend engineers building scalable video infrastructure and AI-powered services. Drive the technical roadmap for video understanding, transformation, and system performance. Develop and champion approaches to leveraging Canva's backend capabilities for AI/ML teams. Collaborate across specialties to deliver innovative editing tools. Champion best practices in software development and system design. Grow engineering talent through coaching, feedback, and hiring. This role offers the opportunity to shape Canva's future in intelligent video editing and work on projects involving AI inference, media processing, and infrastructure.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading high-performing backend engineering teams
• Strong technical background in distributed systems, APIs, and infrastructure
• Ability to coach, develop, and grow engineering talent
• You bring strong system design expertise and are familiar with Java, even if you're not hands-on in day-to-day coding
• A product mindset — comfortable making trade-offs and driving user-centric solutions
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills with Product, Design, and AI/ML teams
• A strong sense of ownership and bias to action in ambiguous environments

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of backend engineers focused on building scalable video infrastructure and AI-powered services
• Drive the technical roadmap for video understanding, transformation, inference pipelines, and system performance
• Develop and champion approaches to leveraging Canva’s BE capabilities for AI/ML teams to perform exploratory R&D
• Collaborate across specialties to deliver innovative editing tools for end users
• Champion best practices in software development and system design
• Grow engineering talent through coaching, feedback, and hiring

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with video processing, asset management, or AI integration

Benefits

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally